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The Mazda MX-5, or Miata as it’s known in certain markets, has just set a new Guinness World Record for the "Best selling two-seat sports". Interestingly, the MX-5 originally set the record when production of the reached 531,890 units in May 2000. Guinness updated the record when production passed 700,000 and, later, 800,000 units. Currently, Mazda is reapplying to have the record updated to 900,000 units.

The 900,000th example of the car was built earlier today in Japan and is destined for a home in Germany. This tally has been growing since the launch of the first generation of the car back in 1989. Since then, it has only undergone two complete product redesigns though a series of upgrades have kept it fresh.

The Kappas should have been improved a bit, but they were decent cars. The coupes should have come out at the same time as the convertibles, and the ergonomics and packaging should have been a bit more thought out, but they had potential, and the Sky looked good.

The S2000 was a nice car, and probably worth the cash. But it was allowed, like the NSX before it, to whither on the vine without being maintained with upgrades. It also should have spawned a slightly longer wheelbase version, as an Acura 2+2 coupe to succeed the RSX. Maybe it could also have gotten SH-RWD torque vectoring and maybe a V6 engine option. Offering it as a wider platform, rather than a single model would have helped defray and amortize the costs.

They had potential that should have been explored... but GM already failed, and Honda is failing at staying relevant.

Offering it as a wider platform, rather than a single model would have helped defray and amortize the costs.

Admittedly the RX-8 and current Miata share some underpinnings but the existence of the NA and NB Miatas (Miatae?) for all those years on a unique platform with only negligible variance between models (5/6-speed and LSD/no LSD were the only real differences afaik) kind of undercuts your argument.

None. There use to be S2000 and Solstice/Sky but they were more expensive and now are gone.

I really wouldn't count the S2000 as direct competitor for the Miata. The starting price point of the S2000 put it directly in between the Miata and the BMW Z-series, where there was a significant price gap. Then again, on the other hand when you consider the low number of none luxury roadsters for sale in the US they are going to compete on a few shoppers' lists.

GM's Kappa cars were very good cars and matched the Miata, except for the fact that Mazda was making profit off of Miata sales LOL.

Remember that the Miata had another direct competitor it outlasted: Toyota's MR-2 Spyder. It also matched the Miata nose to nose, but 1) you had to look at and 2) everyone else had to look at it.

I guess you could count the last generation Mercury Capri and Honda del Sol, as competitors but I wouldn't it.

The car has done so well because it's managed to remain a (relatively) cheap, light-weight, no-nonsense fun kind of car. While the Sky/Solstice and the S2000 may have nailed one or the other, I'd argue that simply neither were able to combine it all like the Miata/MX-5.

Hopefully this formula isn't lost on Mazda, and they apply it to the next RX-7 (as much as I know everybody here wants the old FD3S back). Mazda sold boat loads of 1st and 2nd gen RX7s (more so the 1st though, approx 475,000 compared to approx 270,000 for the 2nd ) than the 3rd (less than 70,000 over nearly a decade of production).

the existence of the NA and NB Miatas (Miatae?) for all those years on a unique platform with only negligible variance between models (5/6-speed and LSD/no LSD were the only real differences afaik) kind of undercuts your argument.

They still shared a lot of parts with other models. the early Miata 5 speed transmission for example was a variation on the non turbo Rx-7 transmission. The 1.6 and 1.8 engines were modified versions of 323 and Protege engines.

The car has done so well because it's managed to remain a (relatively) cheap, light-weight, no-nonsense fun kind of car. While the Sky/Solstice and the S2000 may have nailed one or the other, I'd argue that simply neither were able to combine it all like the Miata/MX-5.

Hopefully this formula isn't lost on Mazda, and they apply it to the next RX-7 (as much as I know everybody here wants the old FD3S back). Mazda sold boat loads of 1st and 2nd gen RX7s (more so the 1st though, approx 475,000 compared to approx 270,000 for the 2nd ) than the 3rd (less than 70,000 over nearly a decade of production).

I bet the decline in sales of the successive generations parallels that seen by every other marque in their sporty 2-door model(s). Those were the years of SUV ascendancy…

The car has done so well because it's managed to remain a (relatively) cheap, light-weight, no-nonsense fun kind of car. While the Sky/Solstice and the S2000 may have nailed one or the other, I'd argue that simply neither were able to combine it all like the Miata/MX-5.

The ingredients for success right here. Find a niche, keep it real, and make your changes slight. Same thing as the Wrangler, 911, Tacoma and other lines that have lived on so well.

The car has done so well because it's managed to remain a (relatively) cheap, light-weight, no-nonsense fun kind of car. While the Sky/Solstice and the S2000 may have nailed one or the other, I'd argue that simply neither were able to combine it all like the Miata/MX-5.

Hopefully this formula isn't lost on Mazda, and they apply it to the next RX-7 (as much as I know everybody here wants the old FD3S back). Mazda sold boat loads of 1st and 2nd gen RX7s (more so the 1st though, approx 475,000 compared to approx 270,000 for the 2nd ) than the 3rd (less than 70,000 over nearly a decade of production).

I'm with you, we need a 1st gen RX7 redux. As cool as the FD3S was for bench/magazine racing it was just a bit too expensive to sell well. Seems simple enough to me. Just make a Miata hatchback (or coupe if you must) and put the rotary engine in it. Voila, platform sharing. The loss of the convertible mechanisms should shed some weight and add rigidity and cargo space. Sign me up!

All the rumors state an attempt to return to the NA gen's weight (~2200lbs IIRC). Whether or not they'll be able to accomplish that feat remains to be seen, but I'm skeptical.

Modern safety requirements, plus modern expectations about NVH will make that a daunting challenge, especially in the price range that the MX-5 must maintain if it is to be successful.

I dearly hope they're successful, however. I think a 2200 lb. ND with a 150-160 HP fuel efficient motor would be perfect. That could probably come from a massaged 1.6 or 1.8 liter motor. A performance model with 180-200 HP would hopefully satisfy the power hungry, as it would have an excellent power to weight ratio.

One thing you're forgetting about these two (technically 3 I guess) is that they had absolutely no storage space while the MX-5 managed to have a decent trunk.

Two people and their luggage on a trip sounds a lot better than two people and a backpack.

Exactly.

When I was shopping for the Miata with my wife, we did scrutinize the MR2 Spyder very closely.

The spyder was a bit better balanced as a sports car, due to the mid-engine layout... but that was the only plus.

There is NO storage space. There are tiny cubbys between the seatbacks and the firewall. There is a tiny glovebox. There was a cubby under the hood that also housed the spare tire... but most of the under-hood was a plastic cover. You would struggle to fit a briefcase in on top of the spare tire.

If you want to bring home a few groceries, you had better not have a passenger in the passenger's seat, because that is the ONLY cargo room.

There is no way without a trailer tote to take a weekend trip for two with even a single piece of luggage, and no souvenirs.

There was no rear trunk like the SW20 MR2 Coupe, which was all around a better car, even if it was older.

Plus the dimpled plastic interior panels in the MR2 spyder were cheap and economy-class, not classic in the least.

And the exterior styling wasn't anything to write home about, either. The Miata was classic and simple inside and out.

And it is what has been in our garage since 2001, and isn't going anywhere anytime soon, and is holding up great at just under 80k miles, aside from some paint chipping on the front, a mistake-induced tear in the passenger's side door card upholstery, and a trim panel under the steering wheel that refuses to remain fastened. But my 2005 Legacy has more problems than that, with about the same mileage.